Libertarian perspectives on immigration
The libertarian perspective on immigration is often regarded as one of the core concepts of libertarian theory and philosophy.[1][2] Some libertarians assert that "[e]fforts by the government to manage the labor market are as apt to fail as similar efforts to protect domestic industries or orchestrate industrial policy. [...] If an immigrant seeks to engage in peaceful, voluntary transactions that do not threaten the freedom or security of the native-born, the government should not interfere".[3]
Libertarian proponents of free immigration
Samuel Edward Konkin III has promoted illegal immigration as being a key part of the counter-economy.[4]
Libertarian author Jacob Hornberger, a proponent of freer immigration policies,[5][6] argues that open borders is the only libertarian immigration position.[7]
Others have argued that a policy of open borders would run counter to many Libertarian objectives.[8][9]
Jeffrey Tucker, Director of Content at the Foundation for Economic Education,[10] has been critical of the closed-border arguments made by conservative-leaning libertarians:[11][12]
This is a huge debate among people who otherwise swear fealty to "limited government." Many people who claim to want freedom seem to have no problem with the implications of a closed-border policy: national IDs, national work permits, non-stop surveillance, harassment of all businesses, a "papers please" culture, mass deportation, tens of billions in waste, bureaucrats wrecking the American dream, broken families, [and] the rights of Americans and foreigners transgressed at every turn.[11]
References
- Brennan, Jason (2012). Libertarianism, What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press. pp. 42, 50, 119, 125.
[Libertarians] believe everyone has the right to take employment in any other country, regardless of citizenship. They hold that, except in special circumstances, governments may not forbid citizens from leaving a country, nor may governments forbid foreigners from entering (page 42).
- Brennan, Jason (16 February 2016). "Immigration Rights". Libertarianism. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- Griswold, Dan (2008). "Immigration". In Hamowy, Ronald (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Cato Institute. pp. 235–237, quote at p. 236. doi:10.4135/9781412965811.n145. ISBN 978-1-4129-6580-4. LCCN 2008009151. OCLC 750831024.
- "Counter-Economics: what it is, how it works" (PDF). Agorism.info. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2009.
- Hornberger, Jacob (1 November 1994). "The Case for Unilateral Free Trade and Open Immigration". Future of Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- Hornberger, Jacob (1 February 2000). "Let's Stick with Traditional American Values!". Future of Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- Hornberger, Jacob (19 November 2019). "Open Borders Is the Only Libertarian Immigration Position". The Future of Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- Parkos, Jack (19 May 2016). "The Libertarian Argument for Closed Borders". 71 Republic. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- "Ron Paul on Immigration". 71 Republic. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- "Jeffrey A. Tucker". Foundation for Economic Education. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- Tucker, Jeffrey (14 September 2015). "Why Open Borders?". Foundation for Economic Education. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- Tucker, Jeffrey (26 August 2016). "Five Differences Between the Alt-Right and Libertarianism". Foundation for Economic Education. Retrieved 5 November 2016.